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Reader’s Log 059: Discovering and New Beginnings

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Wish-List 5

Even though my book selections to-read next year is full, I can’t help continue to be on the hunt for more. Searching for books is all part of the fun of discovering new authors, new titles or perhaps re-visiting a genre you haven’t picked up in a while. Whatever the case, it is thrilling and well worth your time!

Not too long ago, I got back into Christian Fiction and I have read a few great ones this year. Back in the day, I felt many of the stories I read were cheesy and unrealistic. I’m delighted I took the chance to come back to the genre and I’m pleased with what the authors are bringing to the genre. My thanks to the authors and publishers! You’ve brought back so many readers to the genre.

Check out below what I have added to my wish-list and may they inspire you to add them to your to-read pile.  

Stephanie

The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch

Pub Date Apr 28 2026 by Harlequin – Romance

PAGES: 368

Christian | General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers

She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life.

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park, is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better.

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath.

As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson

Publish Date April 14, 2026 by Tyndale House Publishers

PAGES: 384

Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance

1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.

2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.

Described as a “powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction” (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.

Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigue

Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan Henry

Includes discussion questions for book groups

On Living Stone (Salome’s Story) by Heather Kaufman

Publish Date January 20, 2026 by Bethany House Publishers

PAGES: 400

Christian

“A beautifully told and imagined story.”–Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling author on Before the King

“A biblical story with a heart for today’s world, pulling out an array of joy and hope, sorrow and loss.”–Mesu Andrews, award-winning author on Up from Dust

Every stone sings as it finds its purpose. This is the lesson restless Salome learns from her father as she grows up by the Sea of Galilee. Known as the wild girl with the quick tongue, Salome is determined to silence the critics who claim she has no future. An unexpected romance and the gift of two sons, James and John, leave her hopeful and resolved to prove herself as a mother.

Salome’s dreams are challenged, however, when her sons answer the call to follow Jesus of Nazareth. As James and John are drawn deeper into Jesus’ ministry, opposition to his message intensifies, leaving Salome with a choice. Can her family continue down the path of discipleship when it might cost them everything? With threats abounding, Salome must confront her fears, even as she discovers her own worth in this most unexpected rabbi.

A journey of faith unfolds in this New Testament-inspired story of Salome, mother of Jesus’ apostles James and John. This compelling biblical fiction book explores themes of family, sacrifice, courage, and redemption, making it a stirring read for fans of The Chosen, Francine Rivers, Tessa Afshar, and Angela Hunt.

The Lumber Baron’s Wife by Lynn Austin

Publish Date Apr 14 2026 by Tyndale House Publishers

 PAGES: 368

Christian | Romance | Women’s Fiction

When the young wife of a powerful lumber baron vanishes into the wilds of frontier Michigan, her friend is left to unravel the truth in this captivating dual-timeline novel from bestselling author Lynn Austin.

1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy—a friend of her husband, John—offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it’s clear her marriage is not what it seems . . . and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home—built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife—Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth—one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.

Witness Protection- A Legal Suspense Novel by Robert Whitlow

Publish Date April 07, 2026

PAGES: 464

Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson

Christian | General Fiction (Adult)

Jon Tremaine has lived in hiding for years–will coming out of the shadows to help a friend be too great a risk?

All is finally good. Jon Tremaine has created a new life in Brunswick, Georgia, as part of the Federal Witness Protection program after testifying against the former drug cartel he was involved with. Only his wife, Sarah, and a handler with the US Marshal’s office know his true identity, and he is now the manager of a large commercial tree farm with a baby on the way. But when one of Jon’s employees is arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the United States, he goes against his better judgment and inserts himself in the middle of the case, believing the man is an unsuspecting mole manipulated by sophisticated drug dealers.

Kelli Quinn, a highly skilled litigator with an Atlanta law firm, has moved to Brunswick to work with her best friend from law school, hoping to rebuild her life after a painful divorce. She and her two children find a temporary home with her aunt Carly, a woman whose great faith is making an impression on her new houseguests. For the first time in a very long while, Kelli sees a future where she can find balance between the job she loves and the family she loves even more.

New to the firm and in need of clients, Kelli agrees to represent Jon’s employee. The unfolding investigation reveals layers of criminal activity and possible connections to Jon’s past, putting everyone at risk of exposure–and even death.

Book Review: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters by Carmen Joy Imes

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Published Oct 28, 2025 by IVP Academic

Does the church still matter in our modern world?

After waves of disillusionment, #churchtoo movements, and political divides, it’s easy to question the value of investing in the church. Yet Carmen Joy Imes offers a profound answer that resonates through the pages of Becoming God’s Family. Exploring the familial and communal identity of the church, Imes traces the thread of God’s presence in the gathered community of faith across the entire Bible. She invites readers into a vision of the church that is rooted deeply in Scripture and speaks directly to the challenges we face today. Imes reminds us of a powerful truth—God delights in the global, inter-generational family He has created.

Through this book, you’ll discover that God keeps His promises. When God’s people gather together, God shows up. Whether you’re struggling to reconnect with the church, seeking a constructive vision for its role in our world, or longing to better understand its biblical foundations, this book offers clarity, hope, and encouragement.

Check out what Dr, Imes has to say about her book on her YouTube channel HERE

My thoughts:

Becoming God’s Family by Carmen Joy Imes is the third in her trilogy. The first two books are “Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters” and “Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters.”  

Imes earned a PhD in Biblical Theology at Wheaton College, an MA in Biblical Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a BA from Multnomah University. She is currently an Associate Professor of the Old Testament at Biola University.

With an outstanding Biblical perspective, Imes writes about what the church is meant to be starting in Genesis and taking you through the Bible. Imes’s theological narrative and approach to God’s church is beautifully weaved and her writing style is refreshing and approachable and I had no problem understanding the text. Imes is a gifted Bible teacher and writer.

I must say, as I was reading, Imes has given me a new insight on this subject that has been on my mind for the last few years now. As I was reading, I felt a calmness wash over me and it was also like a light switched on in my soul. I am over-whelmed with thankfulness that Imes wrote this book. Becoming God’s Family needs to be in every church across the globe. Whether you’re a believer or non-believer or thinking about joining a church, this book is a must read.

At the end of each chapter Imes gives us the key ideas and book resources (Digging Deeper) which is a great help for study. She also has Scripture verses throughout and I recommend having your Bible open as you read this book. I did not have my Bible open this round but I will in my second round of reading…

I will definitely be purchasing a physical book for my home theological library and will be using it as reference for Biblical projects I’m working on.

A big thank you to IVP Academic and NetGalley for a review copy.

Stephanie  

Four quotes from “Becoming God’s Family.” (There are many more.)

“Christ has only one body, one bride, one temple, one kingdom. As we are united to Christ, we are untied to one another. “

 “As long as we see others as the enemy rather than as potential family members, we have not become the community God desires.”

“The true family of faith is marked by hospitality. God calls us to arrange our lives so that we have room for others.”

“Israel consists of twelve tribes; Jesus calls twelve disciples, reconstituting the nation himself.”

Stephanie

Carmen Joy Imes’s Links:

YOUTUBE

Substack newsletter

Blog

Amazon Author Page

Side Bar: I still have so many things to say about this book, giving examples of what Imes wrote that really impacted me. I will pulling topics and will be fleshing out topics (especially the global church) that I want to give my thoughts on.

I want to also makes sure that the readers know that the Old Testament and New Testament is a sweeping narrative and one must read the whole Bible. The New Testament helps you understand the Old Testament and vice versa.

Reader’s Log 057: Books on Psalms

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Previously, I posted about reading “Reflections on the Psalms” by C. S. Lewis as the first book I’m reading as an addition to my daily morning devotions of the book Psalms in the Holy Bible. I’m curious about what others are saying about their studies and takeaways. The devotional I’m studying is a four-year plan but I’m wanting to shorten it in about two years tops-maybe. So far, I’m really enjoying the pace of the four-year plan as I get deeper into the context. We will see how it goes! The three books below are the ones I want to get to next and they’re not in any particular order. I did add praise for “Praise for Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends” by Carmen Joy Imes because she is among my top favorite Old Testament Biblical Scholars.

Stephanie

Psalms 1–72: A Pastoral and Contextual Commentary by Federico G. Villanueva

There is a second volume of the Psalms from this author to complete the commentary on the whole book.

The Asia Bible Commentary series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. e ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

This commentary on Psalms 1-72 provides an exposition that the reader can engage with in their own community of faith in the Asian cultural context. Along with a commentary on each Psalm, Dr. Federico Villanueva provides cultural reflections on a wide variety of relevant topics that include the likes of lament, praise, creation, meditation, depression and natural phenomena. This commentary is an excellent resource for pastors, lay leaders and Bible students but will also be useful and relevant for any Christian committed to applying the Bible in their respective contexts.

Praying the Psalms, Second Edition: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit by Walter Brueggemann

In this thoroughly revised edition of a classic in spirituality, Walter Brueggemann guides the reader into a thoughtful and moving encounter with the Psalms. This new edition includes a revised text, new notes, and new bibliography. “The movement and meeting of God with us is indeed a speech-event in which new humanness is evoked among us. Being attentive to language means cultivating the candid imagination to bring our own experience to the Psalms and permitting it to be disciplined by the speech of the Psalms. And, conversely, it means letting the Psalms address us and having that language reshape our sensitivities and fill our minds with new pictures and images that may redirect our lives” -from Chapter 3

Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

by Carmen Joy Imes

The Psalms teach us how to pray. Many saints over the past three millennia have come near to God by praying the Psalms, and this volume introduces us to some of their greatest thoughts on them.

Covering all 150 psalms, this companion to the “Prayer book of the Bible” contains key devotional readings from the Great Tradition as well as space for journaling our own prayers. This book will help us learn to pray as Jesus prayed—after all, He quoted from the Psalms more often than any other book.

Praise for Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

“For centuries, the Psalms have been the lifeblood of the church’s worship, witness, and soul care. In this volume, Imes invites readers to engage this life-giving book alongside their fathers and mothers in the faith . . . The nuggets of wisdom here should direct readers to engage the world of early Christian theology further, where they will find faithful friends and wise guides on the road of discipleship.”

Stephen T. Pardue, PhD,

Assistant Professor of Theology,

International Graduate School of Leadership (Philippines), Asia Graduate School of Theology (Philippines)

“This book will help you to re-hear the Psalms as you pray through them with the saints of old. It is a book to carry around with your Bible, to savor slowly with your morning coffee . . . It will touch your prayer life and calm your soul.”

Donald M. Fairbairn, Jr., PhD,

Academic Dean (Charlotte Campus),

Robert E. Cooley Professor of Early Christianity,

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

“What a delight to read the Psalms in the company of the righteous! . . . The pithy and apt extracts from these scholars give extra insights for our daily meditation. I am looking forward to using this book!”

Jill Firth, PhD,

Lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew,

Ridley College (Melbourne)

Book Review: The Man in the Stone Cottage by Stephanie Cowell

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A Novel of the Brontës

Publish Date Sep 16 2025 by Regal House Publishing

In 1846 Yorkshire, the Brontë sisters—Charlotte, Anne, and Emily—navigate precarious lives marked by heartbreak and struggle. Charlotte faces rejection from the man she loves, while their blind father and troubled brother add to their burdens. Despite their immense talent, no one will publish their poetry or novels. Amidst this turmoil, Emily encounters a charming shepherd during her solitary walks on the moors, yet he remains unseen by anyone else.

After Emily’s untimely death, Charlotte—now a successful author with Jane Eyre—stumbles upon hidden letters and a mysterious map. As she stands on the brink of her own marriage, Charlotte is determined to uncover the truth about her sister’s secret relationship.

My thoughts:

The Bronte sister’s life is known to us yet still mysterious and their stories are timeless and evoke human emotions so raw and brilliantly expressed that it leaves the reader powerful and lasting impressions.

Despite their early education and talent, they were dealt hardships in their short lives. As children they were left much on their own because of their mother’s death in 1821 and the death of their elder sister’s Mary and Elizabeth. These sad circumstances left them to take care of each other.

As they grew older, their father Patrick Brontë eyes were failing him and with the potential threat of his income as a minster and rectory being taken from him and their brother Branwells inability to establish employment for various reasons, they faced homelessness or the workhouse.

Charlotte, the driving force to publish their writings, begins to seek a publisher for her work and encourages her sisters to do so as well.

Stephanie Cowell has masterfully written a story about the cherished Brontë’s adult life in Yorkshire and brilliantly weaves in a story of Emily meeting a mysterious man on one of her walks on the moors.

Cowell’s ability to take readers to time and place is truly wonderful and adsorbing. I couldn’t put this story down. I will certainly purchase a physical copy of this book when it comes out.

Stephanie

I have rated this book five stars

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley.

Reader’s Log 056: Current Reads and Contemplation

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I finished Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together by Ilana Kurshan. The book has been published but I haven’t turned in my review yet because there is something the author briefly mentions about a group of people that made me pause and I’m trying to work out how I’m going to address this issue objectively. I will say I wish she had fleshed it out a bit better to get a clearer picture and that is part of the problem I’m having with the passage. Also, the author’s narrative often moves rather quickly onto other things… Okay, that is all I’m going to say about the subject until I release my review. Be sure to be on the lookout for it!

The books I’m currently reading are enjoyable thus far and I recommend them to consider reading. In this post, I will show three of them and the fourth book will be for another post because it is a very complex topic that I will be talking about in depth.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend of resting and reading.

Stephanie

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

Not yet published Expected Date: March 24, 2026 – I have a review copy from the pubs.

1920’s London was enthralled by the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Filled with priceless statues, jewels, and the gold-encased mummy of the boy Pharaoh himself, the burial site unleashed a fascination with the ancient world and revolutionized the world of archeology.

The discovery was made by Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and his associate, famed archeologist Howard Carter. What no one knows is that without the pioneering spirit of Lady Evelyn Herbert, Carnarvon’s daughter, the tomb might never have been found. As a young woman, Evelyn was fascinated by the story of Hatshepsut, a woman who had to assume the guise of a man in order to rule Egypt. Although she brought peace and prosperity to Egypt, her male successors ruthlessly and thoroughly erased her name from history.

Lady Evelyn’s ambition to find the tomb of Egypt’s first woman ruler exposes her to life-threatening danger and pits her against archeologists who refuse to believe the tomb can be found―and certainly not by a woman. Refusing to give up, Evelyn is on the verge of success when she is suddenly forced to make an agonizing choice between loyalty to her beloved father and Carter and realizing the dream of a lifetime.

About the author:

Marie Benedict is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie’s Maid, The Other Einstein, and the novella, Agent 355. With Victoria Christopher Murray, she co-wrote the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian and the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies. 
Her books have been translated into thirty languages, and selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List, and LibraryReads List. 
Up next is the February 11, 2025 release, The Queens of Crime, the thrilling story of Agatha Christie’s legendary rival, mystery writer Dorothy Sayers, the race to solve a real-life murder, and the power of friendship among women.
And in April, her first children’s book will released, a middle grade historical adventure co-written with Courtney Sheinmel called The Secrets of the Lovelace Academy.

Phoebe by Paula Gooder

Published September 4, 2018

Sometime around 56 AD, the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. He entrusted this letter to Phoebe, whom he describes as the deacon of the church at Cenchreae and a patron of many. But who was this remarkable woman? Biblical scholar and popular author and speaker Paula Gooder imagines Phoebe’s story—who she was, the life she lived, and her first-century faith—and in doing so opens up Paul’s world, giving a sense of the cultural and historical pressures that shaped his thinking and the faith of the early church. After the narrative, Gooder includes an extensive notes section with comments on the historical context, biographical details, cultural practices, and more. Rigorously researched, this is a book for anyone who wants to engage more deeply and imaginatively with Paul’s theology.

About the author:

Paula Gooder is a speaker and writer on the Bible, particularly on the New Testament. She began her working life, teaching for twelve years in ministerial formation first at Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford and then at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham. Following this she spent around eight years as a speaker and writer in biblical studies travelling the country and seeking to communicate the best of biblical scholarship in as accessible a way as possible, after that she spent six years working for the Bible Society as their Theologian in Residence and then for the Birmingham Diocese as their Director of Mission Learning and Development. She is currently the Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright

Published April 1, 2025

In 1874, a battered woman awakens atop a forgotten gravesite by Lake Superior. Identified only by the locket around her neck inscribed with the name Rebecca, she seeks refuge with an elderly lighthouse keeper named Edgar. But as Rebecca struggles to remember who she is, she finds herself haunted by the lingering memories of Annabel, a mysterious woman who perished in the unforgiving waves of Lake Superior years earlier. With the spirit of Annabel seemingly reawakened, and an unknown adversary on the hunt to silence Rebecca once and for all, there is more at stake than just reclaiming her own memories. Rebecca must reclaim Annabel’s as well.

In the present day, author and researcher Shea Radclyffe escapes to the lighthouse outside a historic mining town in Michigan, seeking clarity about her failing marriage. Instantly drawn to the lighthouse’s landlord, Shea contends with the vengeful legend of Annabel’s ghost and a superstitious community that has buried the secrets surrounding a decade-old murder. As the secrets harbored around Annabel’s lighthouse unravel, Shea must navigate a fight of torn loyalty, self-discovery, and the haunting forces of love and a vengeance that should have drowned a century before.

About the author:

Daphne du Maurier and Christy Award-Winning author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing suspenseful, mysteries stained with history’s secrets.

Reader’s Log 055: Current and Upcoming Reads

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I finished and reviewed, “The Lost Baker of Vienna” by Sharon Kurtzman and enjoyed the story and now I’ve started reading a couple days ago, “Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together” by Ilana Kurshan. I must confess I’m a little concern about the page length and how the theme will flow through the pages. That said, so far I’m enjoying reading about this family’s love for reading.  

I’m still reading, “The Curious Inheritance” of Blakely House and “Reflections on the Psalms by C. S. Lewis.” These two are wonderful and engaging reads and I’m taking my time with them though I’m getting close to finishing The Curious Inheritance. After I finish with Lewis’s book I’m going to start reading, “A Sacred Sorrow” by Michael Card. I have so much to say about lament and I look forward to sharing more on the subject at a later time. After I finish up with Curious Inheritance, I’m thinking about starting, “Daughter of Egypt” by Marie Benedict. I have an ARC of this book and I’m thrilled with the premise for this story. Also, I’ve been reading, “Babylon” by Paul Kriwaczek and while I don’t agree with everything he writes, I do find many aspects of the information he provides to be fascinating and I’ve learned few new details that I need for my research. Kriwaczek is a good writer and it makes his book easier to read which is refreshing and helpful!

Stephanie

Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together by Ilana Kurshan

Not yet published Expected Aug 26, 2025 by St. Martin’s Press

In Children of the Book, Ilana Kurshan explores the closeness forged when family life unfolds against a backdrop of reading together. Kurshan, a mother of five living in Jerusalem, at first struggles to balance her passion for literature with her responsibilities as a parent. Gradually she learns how to relate to reading not as a solitary pursuit and an escape from the messiness of life, but rather as a way of teaching independence and forging connection. Introducing her children to sacred and secular literature—including the beloved classics of her childhood—helps her become both a better mother and a better reader.

Chief among the books Kurshan reads with her children is the Five Books of Moses, known as the Torah, which Jews the world over read in synchrony as part of the liturgical cycle. In the five parts of this memoir, Kurshan explores the surprising resonances between the biblical text and her experiences as a mother and a reader – from the first picture books that create the world through language for little babies, to the moment our children begin reading on their own leaving us behind, atop the mountain, as they enter new lands without us. A testament to the enduring power of shared texts, Children of the Book celebrates the deep pleasures of books.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

Not yet published

Publish Date: Mar 24, 2026 by St. Martin’s Press

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary—and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy—or forge her own.

A Sacred Sorrow: Reaching Out to God in the Lost Language of Lament by Michael Card

Published February 1, 2005 by NavPress

It’s easy to praise God when things in your life are going well, but what about the other times? What happens when mountaintop experiences cascade into seasons of struggling, suffering, and loss in the valley? God desires for us to pour out our hearts to Him, whether in joy or pain. But many Christians don’t feel right expressing anger, frustration, grief, and sadness in prayer. Our personal worship experience is not complete unless we understand the lost language of lament.

In A Sacred Sorrow, author, musician, and Bible teacher Michael Card takes you through the Scriptures to show you what your worship and prayer life has been missing. Learn new ways to honor God and deepen your relationship with Him by:

Becoming more honest in worship

Trusting in His unchanging presence

Believing in His constant loving kindness

Sharing your sorrow as an act of worship

From Job to David to Jesus, men and women of Scripture understood the importance of pouring one’s heart out to the Father. Examine their stories and expand your definition of worship as you find healing. Let your pain, questions, and sorrow resound with praise to a God who is moved by your tears.

Book Review: The Lost Baker of Vienna: A Novel by Sharon Kurtzman

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Happy Publishing Day!      

Published by Pamela Dorman Books

About the Book:

In 2018, Zoe Rosenzweig is reeling after the loss of her beloved grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. She becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to her family during the war.

Vienna, 1946: Chana Rosenzweig has endured the horrors of war to find herself, her mother, and her younger brother finally free in Vienna. But freedom doesn’t look like they’d imagined it would, as they struggle to make a living and stay safe.

Despite the danger, Chana sneaks out most nights to return to the hotel kitchen where she works as a dishwasher, using the quiet nighttime hours to bake her late father’s recipes. Soon, Chana finds herself caught in a dangerous love triangle, torn between the black-market dealer who has offered marriage and protection, and the apprentice baker who shares her passions. How will Chana balance her love of baking against her family’s need for security?

My thoughts:

It is not often I read an historical fiction story of the aftermath of in months or year post World War II. I wonder how often people think about the dangers the Jewish people still faced during that time or how they had to completely rebuild their lives. There is also the fact that they were at the mercy of the allied forces and not all of them were honorable people to say the least. The Lost Baker of Vienna focuses on what the Rosenzweigs’ family experienced during and after the war.  

The Lost Baker of Vienna is a dual timeline weaved with mystery, love, survival, loss, and rebuilding life after the horrors of war.

I was fully immersed in this story and the outcome. Wonderful character development and the author portrayed a realistic reality to the post war era. As I understand it, this story is inspired by her own family’s experience after the war which makes this story even more impactful.

I rated this book five stars.

Stephanie

I obtained an ARC through NetGalley from the publisher for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 054: Girl Lost by Kate Angelo

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I have been on the lookout for more mystery thrillers written by christian authors and I came across Kate Angelo and I thought I would add her book “Girl Lost” to my to-read list. This book comes out in September so I may purchase it when it does. I did spot this book on NetGalley but decided not to request it because I’m working on my backlog of reviews to turn in. So many books, so little time.

Stephanie

Pub Date Sep 23 2025 by Revell

Christian | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance

Description

A LOST BABY

Luna Rosati found acceptance and comfort with her childhood foster family, but when she became pregnant at sixteen, she gave the baby up for adoption and left without a word. Now a CIA counterintelligence officer, Luna wants to reconcile her fractured sense of self by finding the only blood family she has–the teenage daughter she’s never met. As Luna closes in on learning the girl’s identity with the help of her mentor, Stryker, she prepares to meet him in her old neighborhood–the last place she wants to be. Then Stryker is captured.   

AN INESCAPABLE PAST

Special Agent Corbin King changed his last name to escape the shadow of his convicted father serving a life sentence. When he runs into Luna, the object of his failed teenage romance, the two must put their pasts aside and work together to expose a secret that someone’s willing to kill for.

A DEADLY THREAT

But when they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna are keeping from one another are only the beginning of the threat they face with more than their own lives at stake.

Reader’s Log 053: Current Reads

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Historical Genre

My current reads are fantastic and I’m really enjoying the uniqueness of the writing style, characters and plot of “The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House.” I have created a daily reading schedule for these three books and the anticipation of looking forward to my time with them has really helped keep me on track with my reading habits. I love when that happens! First up, “Reflections on the Psalms by C. S. Lewis.”

This book was first published January 1, 1958.

For morning daily devotions, I’m currently studying through the book of Psalm verse by verse. So I thought I would read several books on people’s thoughts about the Psalms. Also, It won’t be too long before I read several others. I’ll be sure to post those books and my thoughts about them when I get to them.

The devotional I’m using is a four year plan but I’m wanting to shorten it in about two years tops. We will see how that goes!

Lewis writes here about the difficulties he has met or the joys he has gained in reading the Psalms. He points out that the Psalms are poems, intended to be sung, not doctrinal treatises or sermons. Proceeding with his characteristic grace, he guides readers through both the form and the meaning of these beloved passages in the Bible.

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano – This book is from my birthday book haul

Published April 15, 2025 by Revell

It is 1901 when clockmaker and brilliant tinker Sydney Forrester inherits Blakely House, the eclectic estate of an estranged uncle she’s never met. The well-known but mysterious industrialist has left behind a stunning array of peculiar inventions–and a couple of nephews’ intents on removing this interloper from the estate. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle’s death, the late master’s nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate’s butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master’s brilliance as well as his property–or someone else will.

The Lost Baker of Vienna: A Novel by Sharon Kurtzman

Not yet published Expected Date: Aug 19, 2025

I am reading this book from NetGalley for review and it is wonderful so far!

In 2018, Zoe Rosenzweig is reeling after the loss of her beloved grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. She becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to her family during the war.

Vienna, 1946: Chana Rosenzweig has endured the horrors of war to find herself, her mother, and her younger brother finally free in Vienna. But freedom doesn’t look like they’d imagined it would, as they struggle to make a living and stay safe.

Despite the danger, Chana sneaks out most nights to return to the hotel kitchen where she works as a dishwasher, using the quiet nighttime hours to bake her late father’s recipes. Soon, Chana finds herself caught in a dangerous love triangle, torn between the black-market dealer who has offered marriage and protection, and the apprentice baker who shares her passions. How will Chana balance her love of baking against her family’s need for security?

The Lost Baker of Vienna affirms the unbreakable bonds of family, shining a light on the courageous spirit of WWII refugees as they battle to survive the overwhelming hardships of a world torn apart.

What are you currently reading?

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 052: Biblical Fiction

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Written by Biblical Scholars Part I

My top favorite genre is Historical Fiction and I’m always on the lookout for Biblical Fiction. Though through the years I’ve read several but I haven’t really delved in this genre like I should.

Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is an Old Testament Scholar whose work I’ve been following and this summer she has been conducting a summer reading series on Youtube about the books she recommneds and they are fantastic for in-depth biblical knowledge and spiritual growth. In one of her videos I mentioned “The Lost Letters of Pergamum” by Bruce W. Longenecker that I have and she said she was going to do a historical fiction recommendation video for that genre and that it was one of the books she is going to talk about. When she uploaded the video, I clicked on it so fast! What is unique about her recommendations for this genre is that the books are written by Biblical Scholars which this tells me that these books are well researched. I am familiar with a few of the author names and had not realized they wrote historical fiction. Be sure to watch Dr. Imes recommendation videos. She gives great commentary on why she recommends them.

The first book I have listed during the intertestamental period and I’ve read a several of nonfiction works on this time period and love it! I was thrilled she included this book on her list and can’t wait to read it.

Day of Atonement: A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt by David DeSilva

In the blank pages between Malachi and Matthew, the course of an entire nation was changed . . .

His brother, the high priest Honiah, enjoyed the authority of the high priesthood, and all-important decisions needed his approval. But it was Jason who was shaping the future of Jerusalem and with it, all Judea. He breathed in again, imagining that he could feel the wave of destiny impelling him forward toward his vision as he exhaled . . .

The Greeks have taken over the world, but Jerusalem is still the same backwater city Jason has always known. He wants to help his hometown rise to a new age of prosperity and influence. If that means stretching the terms of the city’s divine covenant, so be it. But how far is he willing to go to achieve Greek greatness for this Jewish city? It will take the willingness of a handful of Jews to die rather than violate the covenant in order to turn the tide back to God.

Written by an internationally recognized expert in the period between the Testaments, Day of Atonement invites readers into Judea during the tumultuous years leading up to the Maccabean Revolt. It was this pivotal decade that reminded Jews of the centrality of the covenant to their national security and taught them that the covenant was worth dying for. The story is so foundational, it is still told every year at Hanukkah. The lessons learned during this turbulent time also shed light on just what was at stake in the ministry of Jesus, whose radical message seemed to threaten the covenant once again.

I have been looking into stories about women in the Bible and the next three books listed look fantastic!  

Phoebe: A Story by Paula Gooder

Sometime around 56 AD, the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. He entrusted this letter to Phoebe, whom he describes as the deacon of the church at Cenchreae and a patron of many. But who was this remarkable woman?

Biblical scholar and popular author and speaker Paula Gooder imagines Phoebe’s story―who she was, the life she lived, and her first-century faith―and in doing so opens up Paul’s world, giving a sense of the cultural and historical pressures that shaped his thinking and the faith of the early church. After the narrative, Gooder includes an extensive notes section with comments on the historical context, biographical details, cultural practices, and more. Rigorously researched, this is a book for anyone who wants to engage more deeply and imaginatively with Paul’s theology.

Priscilla: The Life of an Early Christian by Ben Witherington III

Who was Priscilla?

Readers of the Bible may know her as the wife of Aquila, Paul’s coworker, or someone who explained baptism to Apollos. Biblical references to Priscilla spark questions: Why is she mentioned before her husband? Does the mention of her instruction of Apollos mean that women taught in the church? What is her story?

Ben Witherington addresses these questions and more. In this work of historical fiction, Priscilla looks back on her long life and remembers the ways she has participated in the early church. Her journey has taken her to Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome, and she’s partnered with Paul and others along the way.

Priscilla’s story makes the first-century world come alive and helps readers connect the events and correspondence in different New Testament books. Witherington combines biblical scholarship and winsome storytelling to give readers a vivid picture of an important New Testament woman.

A Week in the Life of a Greco-Roman Woman (A Week in the Life Series) by Holly Beers

A young wife meets her daily struggles with equanimityand courage. She holds poverty and hunger at bay, fights to keep her child healthy and strong, and navigates the unpredictability of her husband’s temperament. But into the midst of her daily fears and worries, a new hope appears: a teaching that challenges her society’s most basic assumption. What is this new teaching? And what will it demand of her?

In this gripping novel, Holly Beers introduces us to the first-century setting where the apostle Paul first proclaimed the gospel. Illuminated by historical images and explanatory sidebars, this lively story not only shows us the rich tapestry of life in a thriving Greco-Roman city, it also foregrounds the interior life of one courageous woman―and the radical new freedom the gospel promised her.

The next two look great and I can’t wait to read them. About the middle of next year or towards the end I’m take a journey forward to the 1st century again so these will be perfect. This whole entire list of books is perfectly really. As I read each one, I will be sure to post about what I thought of the stories and if I would recommend them to my readers.

A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion (A Week in the Life Series) by Gary M. Burge

Enter a world of warfare and treachery, of duty and honor, of love and loyalty, interwoven with the inner workings of a Roman centurion’s household. And then trace it as the road curves toward little Capernaum.

Follow the story of Appius, a proud centurion, and Tullus, his scribe and slave. From a battle with the Parthians, through a tragic personal crisis, to the gladiator arena at Caesarea Maritima, their tale finally leads to the backwater village of Capernaum on the shores of Galilee. There, in a culture not their own and during a week they will never forget, they encounter a Jewish prophet from Nazareth.

A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion gives us a first-century view of the world of the Gospels. In entertaining historical fiction, splashed with informative sidebars and images, we capture a view of Jesus’ world from the outer framework looking in.

Killing a Messiah: A Novel by Adam Winn

As Passover approaches, the city of Jerusalem is a political tinderbox. Judah, a resistance leader, plots to overthrow the Roman occupation. Eleazar and his father, the high priest Caiaphas, seek peace in the city at all costs. Pilate, the Roman governor, maneuvers to keep order (and his own hold on power). Caleb, a shopkeeper, is reluctantly caught up in the intrigue. When rumors start spreading about the popular prophet Jesus, hailed by many as the Messiah, Roman and Jewish leaders alike fear unrest and violence during the upcoming festival. Then, in the midst of this tension, unexpected alliances emerge.

In Killing a Messiah, New Testament scholar Adam Winn weaves together stories of historical and fictional characters in a fresh reimagining of the events leading up to Jesus’ execution. Based on what we know of the first-century context, Winn’s narrative offers compelling explanations for gaps in the Gospel accounts. The social, political, and religious realities of Jesus’ world come to life and shed new light on our reading of the biblical texts. In a city full of political entanglements, espionage, and competing interests, the blame for the crucifixion is complex and can’t land on just a single party. It takes more than one to kill a messiah.

Stephanie